2006 World Rally Championship

The 2006 World Rally Championship was the 34th season in the FIA World Rally Championship. The season began on January 20 with the 74th Monte Carlo Rally where Finland's Marcus Grönholm, in a Ford Focus RS WRC, took the win ahead of France's Sébastien Loeb. After the Swedish Rally ended with the same top-two, Loeb and Kronos Citroën went on to win five rallies in a row. Despite an injury in a mountain-biking accident before the Rally of Turkey, forcing Loeb to miss last four rallies, he secured his third drivers' title, whereas Ford won their first manufacturers' title since 1979.

Rule changes In an attempt to cut costs, new regulations required mechanical front and rear differentials, while the central differential remained active. Active suspension and water injections were also prohibited. Cars entered by a manufacturer had to be equipped with the same engine for two rallies; further limitations were imposed on the changing of some parts, including suspension, steering, turbochargers and gearboxes.

For 2006 manufacturer is understood to mean a manufacturer, a team designated by a manufacturer, or a privateer team taking part with a single make of car.

Two categories were created to compete for the Manufacturer's championship:

Manufacturer 1 (M1) undertakes to take part in all the rallies of the Championship must enter only cars corresponding to the latest homologated version of a World Rally Car in conformity with the 2006 Appendix J must inform the FIA of the name of the first driver entered for the season at the time of registration for the Championship. No change of the first driver is authorised, except in a case of force majeure. The driver of the second car may be changed for each of the rallies in the Championship In order to score points in the Championship, a Manufacturer 1 must take part with two cars of the same make in the 16 rallies of the calendar

Manufacturer 2 (M2) undertakes to take part in 10 or more Championship rallies which it has nominated cannot enter World Rally Cars homologated during the year 2006 and cannot use parts homologated after 2 January 2006 cannot enter a driver who has been classified among the first six in the final classification of the FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers in the last five years In order to score points in the Championship, a Manufacturer 2 must take part with two cars of the same make in 10 or more rallies it nominated on registering for the Championship. The Manufacturer can only score points in the events it nominated on registering

Calendar The 2006 championship was contested over sixteen rounds in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania. Rd.Start dateFinish dateRallyRally headquartersSurfaceStagesDistanceSupport class119 January22 January 74th Rallye Automobile Monte-CarloMonte CarloMixed18366.39 kmPWRC23 February5 February 55th Uddeholm Swedish RallyKarlstad, Värmland CountySnow19349.02 kmJWRC33 March5 March 3rd Corona Rally MexicoLeón, GuanajuatoGravel17359.54 kmPWRC424 March26 March 42nd RallyRACC Catalunya - Costa DauradaSalou, CataloniaTarmac16346.43 kmJWRC57 April9 April 50th Tour de Corse - Rallye de FranceAjaccio, CorsicaTarmac12354.18 kmJWRC627 April30 April 26th Rally ArgentinaCarlos Paz, CórdobaGravel22351.44 kmJWRC/PWRC719 May21 May 3rd Rally d'Italia SardiniaOlbia, SardiniaGravel18344.90 kmJWRC82 June4 June 53rd BP Ultimate Acropolis Rally of GreeceAthensGravel18355.62 kmPWRC911 August13 August 25th OMV ADAC Rallye DeutschlandTrier, Rhineland-PalatinateTarmac19349.11 kmJWRC1018 August20 August 56th Neste Rally FinlandJyväskylä, Central FinlandGravel21351.61 kmJWRC111 September3 September 6th Rally JapanObihiro, HokkaidoGravel27345.72 kmPWRC1222 September24 September 34th Cyprus RallyLemesos, Limassol DistrictGravel22322.51 kmPWRC1313 October15 October 7th Rally of TurkeyKemer, Antalya ProvinceGravel19337.79 kmJWRC1427 October29 October 19th Telstra Rally AustraliaPerth, Western AustraliaGravel26348.51 kmPWRC1517 November19 November 37th Propecia Rally New ZealandHamilton, WaikatoGravel17354.21 kmPWRC161 December3 December 62nd Wales Rally GBCardiff, WalesGravel17355.92 kmJWRCSources:

Teams and drivers Manufacturers Manufacturer Car Team Tyre No Drivers Co-driver Rounds Citroën Xsara WRC Kronos Total Citroën World Rally Team 1 Sébastien Loeb Daniel Elena 1–12† Colin McRae Nicky Grist 13 Xavier Pons Carlos del Barrio 14–16 2 1–8 Daniel Sordo Marc Martí 9–16 Ford Focus RS WRC 06 BP Ford World Rally Team 3 Marcus Grönholm Timo Rautiainen All 4 Mikko Hirvonen Jarmo Lehtinen All Subaru Impreza WRC 2006 Subaru World Rally Team 5 Petter Solberg Phil Mills All 6 Stéphane Sarrazin Stéphane Prévot 1, 4–5, 9 Chris Atkinson Glenn Macneall 2–3, 6–8, 10–16 Manufacturers 2 Peugeot 307 WRC OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team 7 Manfred Stohl Ilka Minor All 8 Henning Solberg Cato Menkerud 1–3, 6–8, 10, 12–16 Ford Focus RS WRC 04Focus RS WRC 06 Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team 9 Matthew Wilson Michael Orr All 10 Pieter Tsjoen Eddy Chevaillier 1 Kosti Katajamäki Timo Alanne 2, 7–8, 10, 13 Luis Pérez Companc Jose Maria Volta 3, 6, 11–12, 14–15 Jari-Matti Latvala Miikka Anttila 4–5, 9, 16 Škoda Fabia WRC Red Bull Škoda Team 11 Gilles Panizzi Herve Panizzi 1, 4 Andreas Aigner Timo Gottschalk 2 Harri Rovanperä Risto Pietilanien 5, 7–8, 12–13, 16 Mattias Ekström Jonas Andersson 9 12 Andreas Aigner Timo Gottschalk 1, 4–5, 7 Klaus Wicha8-9, 12–13, 16 Mattias Ekström Stefan Bergman 2 World Rally Car entries ineligible to score manufacturer points Manufacturer Car Team Tyre Drivers Co-drivers Rounds Citroën Xsara WRC Kronos Racing Daniel Sordo Marc Martí 1–8 Xavier Pons Carlos del Barrio 9–13 PH Sport Janne Tuohino Risto Pietiläinen 2 Mikko Markkula10 Astra Racing Toni Gardemeister Jakke Honkanen 8–9, 12 Ford Focus RS WRC 04 Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Luis Pérez Companc José María Volta 2, 7 Juan Pablo Raies Jorge Pérez-Companc 12 Andreas Mikkelsen Ola Fløene 16 Thomas Schie Thomas Schie Göran Bergsten 2, 10 Steve Perez Steve Perez Steve Harris 4 Pieter Tsjoen Pieter Tsjoen Eddy Chevaillier 9 Mark Higgins Mark Higgins Rory Kennedy 16 Tom Hogan Motors Gareth MacHale Paul Nagle 1–4, 6–7, 9, 11 Focus RS WRC 03 16 Austin MacHale Brian Murphy 1 Eamonn Boland Eamonn Boland Francis Regan 1 Focus RS WRC 02 Emmanuel Stefanis Emmanuel Stefanis Konstantinos Stefanis 8 Dave Weston Jr. Dave Weston Jr. Aled Davies 16 Focus RS WRC 01 Ford Rallyesport Turkey Mehmet Besler Ozden Yilmaz 13 Adnan Sarihan Bahadir Gücenmez 13 Emre Yurdakul Afsin Baydar 13 Hyundai Hyundai Accent WRC3 Stephen Simpson Stephen Simpson Patrick Walsh 16 Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 05 MMSP LTD Gianluigi Galli Giovanni Bernacchini 1–2 Daniel Carlsson Bosse Holmstrand 2 Tomas Thorszelius 10 Jussi Välimäki Jarkko Kalliolepo 7–8, 10 Juho Hänninen Marko Sallinen 10 Peugeot 307 WRC Astra Racing Toni Gardemeister Jakke Honkanen 1, 4–5 Olivier Burri Olivier Burri Christopher Hofmann 1 BSA Alexandre Bengué Caroline Escudero 4–5 Gianluigi Galli Gianluigi Galli Giovanni Bernacchini 5–7, 10 Equipe de France FFSA Nicolas Vouilloz Jacques Boyere 5 Štěpán Vojtěch Štěpán Vojtěch Michal Ernst 9 206 WRC Philippe Roux Philippe Roux Eric Jordan 1, 5 Peugeot Sport Sweden Jimmy Joge Mattias Andersson 2 Ricardo Triviño Ricardo Triviño Sergio Salom 3 Štěpán Vojtěch Štěpán Vojtěch Michal Ernst 4 José Micheli José Micheli Marielle Maccioni 5 SEAT Cordoba WRC Evo3 Jordi Zurita Jordi Zurita Manel Muñoz 4 Škoda Fabia WRC First Motorsport Škoda François Duval Patrick Pivato 1, 4–5, 7–9, 13, 16 Czech RT Škoda Kopecký Jan Kopecký Filip Schovánek 1–2, 4–5, 7–10, 13, 16 Skoda Auto Deutschland Matthias Kahle Peter Göbel 9 Octavia WRC Evo3 Riccardo Errani Riccardo Errani Stefano Casadio 1 Jukka Ketomäki Jukka Ketomäki Kai Risberg 10 SubaruImpreza WRC 2006 Subaru World Rally Team Toshihiro Arai Tony Sircombe 11 Impreza WRC 2005 Subaru Rally Team Australia Chris Atkinson Glenn Macneall 1, 4–5, 9 Cersanit Rally Team Michał Sołowow Maciek Baran 2 Aris Vovos Aris Vovos Loris Meletopoulos 8 Ercan Kazaz Ercan Kazaz Serdar Kurbanzade 13 Valentino Rossi Valentino Rossi Carlo Cassina 15 Red Devil Atolye Kazaz Kristian Sohlberg Tomi Tuominen 7 Risto Pietiläinen 10 Impreza WRC 2004 Kaj Lindström 2 Rally Team Olsbergs Thomas Rådström Jörgen Skallman 2 Anders Grøndal Anders Grøndal Trond-Inge Østbye 2 Mark van Eldik Mark van Eldik Erwin Mombaerts 9 Gareth Jones Gareth Jones David Moynihan 9 Adapta AS Mads Østberg Ole Unnerud 16Impreza WRC 2003 10 Ragnar Engen 2 Kevin Barrett Kevin Barrett Barry Goodman 4 Toyota Corolla WRC Fabio Frisiero Fabio Frisiero Simone Scattolin 2 Poulsen Motorsport Kristian Poulsen Ole Fredriksen 9 Wevers Sport Erik Wevers Filip Goddé 9 Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala Asko Sairanen 10

Notes This is the first season without Carlos Sainz since 1986.

† Sebastien Loeb broke his arm before Rally Turkey and missed the remainder of the season. Max Rally, accessed 8/5/2010

JWRC entries

No Entrant Drivers Co-driver Car Rounds 32 PH Sport Kris Meeke Glenn Patterson Citroën C2 S1600 4–5, 9–10, 13, 16 42 Julien Pressac Gilles De Turckheim 4–5, 7 Jacques Boyere 9–10, 13 55 Brice Tirabassi Jacques-Julien Renucci 4, 5, 7 Fabrice Gordon 9 Fabio Fiandino Sabrina de Castelli Citroën C2 R2 10, 13 33 Suzuki Sport Europe Urmo Aava Kuldar Sikk Suzuki Swift S1600 2, 5, 7, 10, 13, 16 35 Per-Gunnar Andersson Jonas Andersson 2, 6–7, 10, 13, 16 37 Pavel Valoušek Pierangelo Scalvini 2, 5, 7 Zdeněk Hrůza 9–10, 13 43 Jaan Mölder Katrin Becker 16 48 Guy Wilks Phil Pugh 2, 6–7, 10, 13, 16 36 Autorel Sport Luca Betti Piercarlo Capolongo Renault Clio S1600 4–5, 7, 9, 13, 16 39 Barroso Sport Conrad Rautenbach David Senior Renault Clio S1600 4–5, 7, 9–10, 13 41 Renault Sport Patrik Sandell Emil Axelsson Renault Clio S1600 2, 6–7, 10, 13, 16 51 Fatih Kara Cerm Bakancocuklari 4–5, 7, 9, 13, 16 52 Bernd Casier Frédéric Miclotte 4–5, 7, 9, 13, 16 43 M-Sport Jaan Mölder Katrin Becker Ford Fiesta S1600 2, 6 JM Engineering Suzuki Ignis S1600 7, 10, 13 44 Suzuki Shell Helix Michał Kościuszko Jaroslaw Baran Suzuki Ignis S1600 2, 4, 7, 9–10, 13 45 Styllex Tuning Motorsport Jozef Béreš Petr Starý Suzuki Ignis S1600 2, 4–5, 10, 13, 16 46 Power Car Team Andrea Cortinovis Massimiliano Bosi Renault Clio RS 2, 4, 7, 10, 16 Flavio Zanella 13 47 Hawk Racing Club Filippo Bordignon James Bardini Opel Astra OPC 2, 10, 13 Justin Bardini 4, 7, 16 49 Jipocar Czech National Team Martin Prokop Jan Tománek Citroën C2 S1600 2, 4, 7, 9–10, 13 50 Clio Junior Team Kalle Pinomäki Mikko Markkula Renault Clio S1600 10 Renault Clio RS 2, 4–5, 9 Egon Kaur Avo Kristov 16 53 Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Barry Clark Scott Martin Ford Fiesta ST 4–5, 7, 9–10, 16 54 OMV Rally Team Aaron Burkart Jörg Bastuck Citroën C2 S1600 4 Tanja Geilhausen 5, 7, 9, 13, 16 Additional guest entries 59 Suzuki Sweden Peter Zachrisson Jan Svanström Suzuki Ignis S1600 2 60 Johan Karlsson Motorsport Johan Karlsson Mattias Gustavsson Peugeot 206 RC 2 59 Equipe de France FFSA Yoann Bonato Benjamin Boulloud Renault Clio S1600 5 59 Motor Stars Matti Rantanen Jan Lönegren Honda Civic Type-R 10 59 Dealer Team Suzuki James Wozencroft Robert Fagg Suzuki Ignis S1600 16 60 Tom Walster Rally Sport Tom Walster Paul Williams Ford Fiesta ST 16

PWRC entries